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Opinions

Engage with diverse voices in Lexington, VA – The News-Gazette's Opinion page offers insightful perspectives on local and regional issues.

Book Battle At Lylburn Downing

Book Battle At Lylburn Downing

“I know it when I see it,” the oft-quoted comment from Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart to describe obscene material that he felt should not be available in the public square, is an apt phrase to explain why individual perception is the basis for objections people tend to make when seeking to have certain books pulled from the shelves of school or public libraries. 10/18/2023 12:00 AM

‘My Right To Vote’: Boiled Down

‘My Right To Vote’: Boiled Down

Oct. 6, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: The writer Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a six-word story. He wrote, “Baby shoes for sale. Never used.” This short story moved me to try to take one subject, my right to vote, and boil it down to six words. 10/11/2023 12:00 AM

For Ayers

Oct. 9, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: I write to strongly encourage our neighbors and friends in the Buffalo District to vote for Leslie Ayers’ reelection to the Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors. 10/11/2023 12:00 AM

Time To ‘Say Goodbye To Party Of Lincoln’

Time To ‘Say Goodbye To Party Of Lincoln’

Oct. 2, 2023 Editor, The News- Gazette: May it rest in peace. May the Grand Old Party which has shown considerable signs of old age in recent years — the strength needed to be effective in a divided government, be allowed to go the way of all old elephants and find its burial ground. 10/11/2023 12:00 AM

Out Of The Past

Out Of The Past

50 Years Ago 10/11/2023 12:00 AM

Voting Already Underway For Nov. 7 Elections

Voting Already Underway For Nov. 7 Elections

This is a busy time for the offices of our local voting registrars. Early voting for the Nov. 7 elections has been underway since Sept. 22 and will continue through Nov. 4. Much is to be decided in these elections and we encourage local voters to cast ballots – to participate in our representative democracy. 10/11/2023 12:00 AM

CERT

CERT might recall to one’s memory a breath mint that was popular from the 1950s to 2018. I f you’re like me, you missed its discontinuance in 2018 “for having partially hyd roge nated cottonseed oil, which is not allowed as an ingredient in food,” according to Wikipedia. 10/11/2023 12:00 AM

For Clark

Oct. 2, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: Vote Michele Clark for Rockbridge County treasurer! 10/04/2023 12:00 AM

Institutional Memory Source Lost

Institutional Memory Source Lost

Sept. 27, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: If you have been involved with a large, old organization, whether a business or nonprofit organization, you know how important it is to know what has preceded you. Who made what commitments to whom? How much did we agree to pay? When did we agree to build it? 10/04/2023 12:00 AM

For Smith

Oct. 2, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: Voters looking to improve Rockbridge County’s board of supervisors have a clear choice this fall: Mack Smith, farmer, businessman, and public servant to represent the Buffalo District. 10/04/2023 12:00 AM

Mr. Paxton ‘Led The Way To Save Our Past’

Mr. Paxton ‘Led The Way To Save Our Past’

Sept. 27, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: Our community has suffered as big a civic loss as any can imagine when Matthew White Paxton Jr. died Saturday at Kendal. He was 96, and spent his entire professional life as owner, editor and publisher of The News-Gazette (and of the Rockbridge County News before the 1962 merger with the Gazette). 10/04/2023 12:00 AM

Library Book ‘Absolutely Inappropriate’

Library Book ‘Absolutely Inappropriate’

Sept. 28, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette I am a flaming liberal and against book sequestering. However we can support children’s sexual identity without stooping to vulgarity. The book in question, “Kiss Number 8,” offered to youngsters at Lylburn Downing Middle School, inflames the lowest common denominator and appears absolutely inappropriate as a learning resource. 10/04/2023 12:00 AM

For Ojure

Oct. 2, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: As a retired classroom teacher, I believe that school boards function best when people with teaching experience serve on them. Lenna Ojure not only has that experience (at the elementary, middle and high school levels), she also earned a PhD in curriculum and instruction at Virginia Tech. With that expertise, she advanced to teaching at the college level at both VMI and at W&L, where she directed the Teacher Education Program for 11 years. 10/04/2023 12:00 AM

How We Can Help RARA Help Others

How We Can Help RARA Help Others

As we pointed out in last week’s editorial about the start of this year’s United Way campaign, there are a lot of neighbors in our community who need the help that United Way agencies provide. 10/04/2023 12:00 AM

Fall’s Delights

Fall’s Delights

Americans refer to autumn as fall because of the falling of the leaves. Riding to work on U.S. 60 West, I can see the subtle transform ation begin as the green leaves on the trees change into their fall finery. 10/04/2023 12:00 AM

Out Of The Past

Out Of The Past

10/04/2023 12:00 AM

Concerned About Today’s ‘Would-Be Autocrats’

Concerned About Today’s ‘Would-Be Autocrats’

Sept. 21, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: What Hitler and his minority party admired about the U.S. of his time was referred to as “the U.S. model”: voter suppression, gerrymandering, immigration restriction of non-Aryans, mixedrace marriages outlawed, propaganda as education. It was hate wrapped in the flag. 09/27/2023 12:00 AM

‘Pack’ City School Board Meeting About Book

‘Pack’ City School Board Meeting About Book

Sept. 25, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: The city of Lexington and Rockbridge County citizens … call to action! 09/27/2023 12:00 AM

LDMS ‘Has Begun Banning Books’

LDMS ‘Has Begun Banning Books’

Sept. 20, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: The LDMS administration has begun banning books from its middle school library, starting with the novel “Kiss Number 8,” because a parent made the vile accusation that the school is “grooming” children. 09/27/2023 12:00 AM

Support Our Local Farmers

Support Our Local Farmers

Sept. 22, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: We are blessed in Rockbridge County with many medium- and small-scale farms that produce a wide range of nutritious food – beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, rabbit, and a large assortment of vegetables and herbs. 09/27/2023 12:00 AM

New Column In Newspaper Appreciated

New Column In Newspaper Appreciated

Sept. 25, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: I am writing to thank you for the second “For Your Consideration” column in this past Wednesday’s paper. 09/27/2023 12:00 AM

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